August 28, 2016 – Anaheim, CA – Bellator MMA, the fastest growing fight promotion in the United States made its way home to Southern California with Bellator 160: Henderson vs. Pitbull taking place at the Honda Center. Benson Henderson faced Patricio Pitbull to be named the number one contender and fight current Lightweight Champion Michael Chandler.
Also on tonight’s main card in Featherweight feature bout AJ McKee attempted to retain his perfect record against Cody Walker, also in the Featherweight division, Bubba Jenkins takes on Georgi Karakhanyan and Derek Anderson fought on Saad Awad in the Lightweight division.
Here are tonight’s results as follow:
Bellator Featherweight Bout (145 lbs) Cody Walker (7-2-0) vs. AJ McKee (4-0-0)
Round One – McKee starts off with a barrage of kicks but Walker catches one, taking him down only to get reversed by McKee who’s foundation is wrestling and now has top position. McKee moves to the side for an arm triangle, but Walker slips out the side only to give McKee his back. McKee spins out of the guard into the side mount. McKee begins to unleash and ends the first round in the top position.
Round Two – McKee leads with a right body kick followed by and over hand right, taking Walker down with a double and finishing him off with a guillotine chock.
Your winner by submission at 0:32 of the second round, AJ McKee!
Featureweight Bout (145 lbs) Georgi Karakhanyan (24-6-1) vs. Bubba Jenkins (11-2-0)
Round One – Karakhanyan and Jenkins were feeling until Karakhanyan lands a big right hand after catching Jenkins’ kick and finishes him off quick in their rematch with the ground-and-pound.
Your winner in the very first round at 0:53 by TKO, Georgi Karakhanyan!
Bellator Lightweight Bout (155 lbs) Derek Anderson (13-2-0) vs. Saad Awad (19-7-0)
Round One – Awad leads with a low kick, but his leg is caught and still manages to take down Anderson. Awad rocks Anderson, engages him in dirty boxing and takes Anderson down and holds him in a front face lock as he looks to lock in a guillotine, but spins around, takes the back and get back to banging it out center cage. Awad shoots a double leg but has to fight out of a triangle choke by dropping elbows, but Anderson won’t let go and switches to an omoplata, then transitions to a crucifix to end the round in control.
Round Two – It is Anderson who leads with the low kicks, but Anderson’s right eye is swelling up making it a perfect target for Awad’s jab. Anderson ducks a right straight and counters with a couple of kicks. Anderson feeds Awad a right straight and lands a punch combination before stuffing a takedown attempt by Awad. Awad catches a kick, drags Anderson to the ground, has a leg ride as he tries to take the back, but Anderson turns into him, spins around, takes Awad’s back, puts him in a body triangle and is looking for the rear naked choke. Awad survives yet another round ending in a submission attempt.
Round Three – They touch gloves as the crowd screams for Awad who appears to be down on the score cards. Awad has not really been moving his head and is taking far too much punishment from Anderson. Awad opens up with the with his boxing but Anderson has the answer to slow him down with his striking. The crowd again starts chanting for Awad who needs to finish Anderson. If the fight was based on looks, Awad would be winning as he’s done more damage to Anderson’s face, but Anderson has been counter punching and landing more strikes and submission attempts. Awad takes cage control landing a knee before getting turned on the cage only to get a take down landing in side mount, but Anderson transitioned from a guillotine to an arm bar only for Awad to slip out again and this one is going to the judges.
Your winner by unanimous decision, Derek Anderson!
Bellator Lightweight Main Event (155 lbs) Patricio Pitbull (25-3-0) vs. Benson Henderson (23-6-0)
Round One – They touch gloves and feel each other out with Pitbull landing a right hand as Henderson goes for a body kick. Pitbull catches Henderson’s kick but would not engage him on the ground. Henderson throws a teep kick but Pitbull catches and releases it to throw an inside leg lick of his own. The crowd begins to boo at the slow goes of this fight, but any strike landed could easily be a knockout so each fighter needs to be cautious. Pitbull ducks the jab to get off the cage as he and Henderson continue to dance around the cage as the round comes to an end.
Round Two – The fighters continue to dance a little but are trying to be more active as the crowd continues to boo. Pitbull takes Henderson down with a double leg before trying to climb his back. Henderson escapes, has a head kick blocked but at the end of the ground, it looks that Pitbull may have broken his foot.
Henderson wins by TKO after Pitbull broke his foot after a kick he threw and could not answer the bell.
On November 19th Henderson will face Michael Chandler for the Bellator World Lightweight Championship.